Battle of Lanling (291)

The Battle of Lanling was fought in 291 AD during the War of the Eight Princes. The army of Sima Yue captured the farming town of Lanling from forces loyal to his rival prince Sima Zhi, starting his counterattack against Sima Zhi.

Background
In 291 AD, the Prince of Pengcheng Sima Zhi declared war on the Prince of Donghai Sima Yue and sent his general Luo Luban to invade his lands. Sima Yue destroyed this army in the Battle of Cengshan, and he then decided to invade Pengcheng and put an end to his rival. At the same time, Empress Jia Nanfeng sent messages to several major Sima princes asking for their aid in deposing the regents Sima Liang and Wei Guan, whom she declared to be traitors. Sima Yue decided to raise troops, but he decided that Sima Zhi had to be destroyed before he could contribute to the war effort. He led an army of 778 troops to attack the farming town of Lanling, which was held by 481 of Sima Zhi's troops.

Battle
Sima Yue's army drew up its position atop a hill, which it defended as the local militia captain Luo Yin led his army to assault them. Luo Yin's smaller force charged uphill as it was showered with arrows from Sima Yue's archers, and it was then easily repelled; Luo Yin's tired and demoralized troops were forced back down the hill and then rigorously pursued by He Lun's cavalry force, which occupied the flanks of Sima Yue's army. The destruction of Luo Yin's army led to Lanling falling under Sima Yue's control, giving him partial control of Pengcheng Commandery.